Dan’s Daily Notebook: Derick Brassard Not Long for Florida

Derick Brassard should not unpack much more than the travel size toiletries and a few suits. Such is the life of a talented UFA-to-be who is on a losing team. After being dealt by the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Florida Panthers on Wednesday, both Brassard and Riley Sheahan are candidates to be moved again.

Saturday night, Brassard played left wing beside Vincent Trocheck and former Ottawa Senators teammate Mike Hoffman on the Panthers second line. It paid dividends as Florida beat Vegas, 3-1. Brassard had an assist.

However, Nick Kypreos on Hockey Night in Canada made the claim that Columbus is sniffing around, again (Sportsnet).

At this point–Brassard is justified in invoking his partial NTC. Enjoy the sunshine and sign with the right team. But if Columbus called the Penguins, why wouldn’t they call Florida?

Here is more background on how the Penguins-Panthers trade went down. It went down quickly, from what we understand (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

And…Columbus is slumping. The St. Louis Blues who are also back in the playoff race–hence no more wild St. Louis trade rumors–pasted them Saturday night, 4-2. (Columbus Dispatch)

Montreal Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin was in Winnipeg for the Ducks-Jets tilt. Either Bergevin had a craving for THE best Hungarian goulash, or there’s something brewing with Anaheim or Winnipeg. Yes, the Canadiens play both of those teams next week, but teams generally employ advanced scouts for such things (Dan Les Coulisses)

Winnipeg has been looking for forward/scoring depth but they’d like to find good value. Montreal has a few interesting pieces which could be bargain bin steals (Charles Hudon comes to mind).

By the way, we were told the Penguins had a scout in Philadelphia yesterday afternoon, but don’t get too excited. The Flyers beat Edmonton, but Edmonton doesn’t have a GM and the Penguins don’t figure to be players in the Wayne Simmonds market (but wouldn’t that be just like Jim Rutherford?)

Thank you for the amazing traffic in January! Pittsburgh Hockey Now quintupled our January 2018 traffic. 520%. Others are even copying what we do and I can’t think of a more sincere form of flattery. I hope you’ll stay for real hockey coverage now that the Penguins made the big trade.

It’s an off-day for the Penguins but we have more content coming, including a story on Teddy Blueger and…an exclusive legend killing story from Sidney Crosby. Teaser!